Hartlepool: Michael Turner quit the council's Labour Group in protest at the lack of opposition to the plan to dismantle 13 former US Navy vessels in a local shipyard operated by Able UK.

Middlesbrough: Health bosses have confirmed that the James Cook Hospital does not have enough trained staff to operate a new &#xA3;1m magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

Saltburn: Passengers are being urged to join a protest to maintain rail services to Newcastle after the Strategic Rail Authority revealed it is thinking of cutting the number of daily direct trains from 18 to four.

COUNTY DURHAM

Stanley: The King's Head Hotel is being converted to a private members' club called The Love Shack, which has been described as a "paradise for swingers", although developers Archer and Rostron Ltd insisted: "This is not Sodom and Gomorrah."

Catterick: During a visit to mark a decade of Army training at the garrison, Prince Charles urged recruits to have pride in Britain's military traditions as he spoke of "courage and fortitude of spirit".

Darlington: The unanimous acceptance by councillors of a rise in their allowances that will cost &#xA3;120,000 a year, was criticised by Alan Docherty of Unison. He is angry that the council has yet to implement pay rises for childcare workers costing &#xA3;95,000 a year.

NORTH YORKSHIRE

York: A lock of hair taken from engineer Robert Stephenson when he died in 1859 is to be analysed by scientists to establish whether the builder of the Rocket Locomotive was an opium addict.

Whitby: A &#xA3;10,000 fine for safety breaches was levied on Lockers Trawlers following the death of Mike Parkin, 40, on board the Gemma Fidelis in 2001.

Mickley: A plan to create two lakes as part of a landscape scheme in this village near Ripon has run into opposition. The proposal comes from Robert Staveley who created Lightwater Valley theme park.

NORTHUMBERLAND

Morpeth: The Chamber of Trade is backing a Morpeth Intitiative plan to create a cafe culture in the town's Market Place after a &#xA3;600,000 rejuvenation scheme.

Hexham: Plans for a large Safeway store and 400-space car park east of the railway station were approved. Hexham Civic Society objects to the scheme as do some councillors, one of whom said the new building will look like a shed.

Shilbottle: A &#xA3;50,000 grant to the Making Waves project will help support businesses and individuals adding value to local tourism. So far 16 firms in the area east of the A19 from Pegswood to Shilbottle have benefited.

TYNESIDE

North Shields: The council and the Linskill Centre are discussing the future of the Linskill Terrace site, which is planned to be cleared within six months. The council says the much-used community facility has come to the end of its functional lifespan.

Newcastle: Police from London travelled to the city to interview players at Newcastle United who may have been witnesses to a recent alleged sexual assault in the capital. More than 80 fans of the club, meanwhile, were freed without charge after being arrested when trouble broke out in Holland before a UEFA Cup match.

Gateshead: A German couple's proposal to open a sex role-play studio in Swalwell, where customers will pay &#xA3;100 a session, has run into a storm of protest.

WEARSIDE

Sunderland: Regional Labour Party bosses are to probe allegations of irregularities in connection with the selection of candidates for council wards in the city.

Boldon Colliery: The widow of Sunderland-born PC Keith Blakelock, murdered during riots in London in 1985, believes his killer will be caught eventually. Elizabeth Johnson was speaking after it was revealed that Winston Silcott, whose conviction for the murder was overturned on appeal, is to be freed.

Ryhope: A special study of the Tyne and Wear coastline from the village to Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, will shape a regeneration strategy starting in March.

CUMBRIA

Carlisle: Martin Chung, boss of the Emperor's Palace restaurant, was found guilty of possessing cannabis worth more than &#xA3;4000 with intent to supply it to others. The 34-year-old had admitted possessing small amounts of cocaine and ecstasy, and a stun gun.

Appelby: Eddie Stobart Ltd, the famous Cumbrian haulage firm, has been bought by WA Developments International, owned by Eddie's brother William Stobart and Andrew Tinkler.

Keswick: After 16 years spent working for three different owners of the Skiddaw Hotel and serving countless thousands of visitors, Peter Ivison has decided to retire from his post as bar supervisor.